Several pool users have complained to the YMCA, which runs the centre, about the grime.

A swimmer, who asked to remain anonymous, said the amount of grime fluctuated from day to day.

“I swam at Waves this morning and the pool floor had certainly improved,” he said.

“It looks like garden mulch and sand has blown in there.

“In the three weeks I’ve been swimming there, two or three times a week, it was at its worst on Tuesday.”

YMCA’s area manager Andrew Mundy said one of two vacuums had broken down, making cleaning more difficult.

“Because we only have one vacuum cleaner, they are being vacuumed every second night,” Mr Mundy said.

“Cleaning is done overnight — you can’t clean while patrons are in the pool.

“We expect the main vacuum back from Melbourne next week when it is fixed.”

Mr Mundy said the centre’s water quality was not affected by the temporary problem.

He said staff had been cleaning the pool manually every night and in quiet times during the day.

“There are patches where grime forms, for example, areas where grass and dust from peoples feet gets into the pools,” he said.

“Obviously, with a lot of carnivals on, that makes it harder to keep clean.

“And with the industrial estate behind us and the development block with works going on, when the wind is blowing in the wrong direction it brings more dust in.

“It’s purely a visual problem. It doesn’t affect anything except what you are looking at.”

The pool has had on-going troubles with the main vacuum.

The management tried to have the pump fixed locally last week, but had to send it to Melbourne after it still would not work properly.

Mr Mundy said depending on weather and patrons, the pool should be back to normal within 48 hours of getting the vacuum back.

“On the weekend, we held O and M Swimming Championships,” he said. “It was a great event and we didn’t receive any negative feedback at all.

“The grime just sits on the bottom — that is from where the vacuum cleaner usually picks up everything.”